My Sertraline Story!!
Posted , 182 users are following.
Hi im a 32 year old female. Im married with 2 children. About 12 weeks ago I started to get awfulanxiety, I was stressing about the least little thing and turning small things into massive over the top things. I started doing breathing exercises and taking herbal remedies, reading books and going onto websites. Nothing seemed to work and about 6 weeks ago I couldn't take the way I felt anymore and felt like I wasn't coping with normal everyday situations like the school run and seeing my friends and even watching a film with my husband. I have never suffered with anything like this before and that in itself is very scary, I felt out of control with my thoughts, I wasn't sleeping or eating.
I went to see my GP who prescribed me 50mg of Sertraline, I was also given 10 days worth of diazepam (2mg). After a few days of deciding if I should take them I went for it, I had the most awful side affects, sickness, diarrhea, headaches, night sweats, shakes. I couldn't even get out of bed for a couple of days. I was having panic attacks and Insomnia.
After a week or so the side affects eased off and I was able to cope again although I was still left with the awful anxiety. After 2 weeks I started to feel 50% better and then into week 3,4,5 I seemed to go downhill with my anxiety again but I stuck with the Sertraline as the doc said it could take 6-8 weeks to see the benefit.
The last few days I've started to feel 90% my old self again. I think this drug seems to take a while to work but i'm glad I've stuck with it as I feel like i'm getting my old life back again. I really hope this is a helpful and positive story if you are just starting out on Sertraline, I know I have a long way to go but I feel with the help of this med I can get my life back on track.
Reading all the positive stories on this forum has helped me a great deal. Im also lucky to have great family and friends I can talk to.
52 likes, 461 replies
chris59422
Posted
minxy123
Posted
My only downside is I have put on alot of weight and sleep alot, as well as no sex drive or feeling But everything else has gone from strenght to strength.
alinwunterlant minxy123
Posted
keltezza alinwunterlant
Posted
michelle14134 minxy123
Posted
dani32
Posted
Kayleigh0910 dani32
Posted
Did u have up and down days? Been on it 19 days was on 50mg for 7 days and now 100mg and been pretty ok for few days but today got up and my anxiety has heightened and shakes are back, i was put on it for anxiety just wondered if u had the same?
dani32
Posted
rob74885
Posted
I am on 150mg, which I take in the morning, the side effects are better, and I am having brief moments of feeling confident and sort of ok. I was in a terrible space for the first 2 weeks, suicidal thoughts, terrible anxiety, no joy, all doom and gloom. This is starting to get a little better, say 10%. But hey 10% is something. At night I take 300mg of Seroquel and 200mg Epitec and 10mg Zolpidem, this knocks me out and I get 6hours sleep. I havent suffered any headaches as some patients do, the tummy trouble is better, the nausea is alittle better, and my appetite is still not good, which is fine as I need to loose some weight. The depression is lifting slightly, and I can honestly say that this bout of depression has been the worst pain I have ever experienced. So I will continue to hang in there and take the Sertraline, will keep you posted.
lola1081 rob74885
Posted
tracey11164 lola1081
Posted
shalini_17600 rob74885
Posted
weenett rob74885
Posted
dani32
Posted
stewart50006
Edited
I've been on this drug now for 21 days and I'm finally starting to get some confidence that I'm getting somewhere. After a period of diazepam and sleeping tablets failed to stabilise my anxiety, my doctor placed me on 50mg sertraline with diazepam 5mg as emergency backup. Almost immediately I was using my emergency backup!! Two days after starting sertraline I was back at the doctors after waking to a panic attack which I managed to control using breathing techniques. A different doctor told me to take three of the diazepam each day irrespective of how I was feeling to try and control the anxiety. Being quite aware of the addictive nature of this drug this caused me more anxiety as I didn't want to get dependant. I did though find that the anxiety was so bad at times I was taking the diazepam. Two further days later I was back at the doctors again this time being re scribed a beta blocker to work in the background with the diazepam to be used as and when required.
By now I was starting to get slightly concerned that this drug wasn't the right one for me. Two major panic attacks and two ambulances in three days saw me seen by the crisis team in my local A&E which was the first time in two really tough weeks that I saw some light at the end of the tunnel. Although a real nightmare the consultation I had made me realise that the massive spikes in anxiety I was having where down to the sertraline and not a worsening of my condition.
As I said I'm three weeks in now and feel like I've been to hell and back but I really do believe things are starting to settle now. If your feeling and experiencing similar, stick with it. I've just had a lovely weekend with family that a few days previously I would have never thought possible. Don't be afraid of taking the diazepam it really does help and initially you need to control the huge spikes of anxiety. I can understand why some stop this drug but be strong and stick with it. All of a sudden the anxiety spikes seem to drop off dramatically and you start to feel like your getting some control back
I just hope that if anyone is going through the same, this story will give you some confidence. I've never had an ambulance come to me before but hey if it helps it doesn't matter!!
I've suffered several episodes of this type of anxiety/depression before and taken anti-depressants for it. Whilst the initial heightened anxiety associated with sertraline is defiantly worse than that with any other tablets I have taken, after three weeks it seems to be returning my thought processes back to normal far quicker than I remember happening before.
In short, stick with it. It's horrendous initially but it's going to be worth it!!!!!
nina21823 stewart50006
Posted
sarah09381 nina21823
Posted
nina21823 sarah09381
Posted
tracey11164 sarah09381
Posted
sarah09381 tracey11164
Posted
tracey11164 sarah09381
Posted
sarah09381 tracey11164
Posted
tracey11164 sarah09381
Posted
jane62371 sarah09381
Posted
I know how hard it is x
sarah09381 jane62371
Posted
jane62371 sarah09381
Posted
Try some meditation I know that it's incredibly difficult when you're that anxious.
sarah09381 jane62371
Posted
jane62371 sarah09381
Posted
wayne76842 sarah09381
Posted
sarah09381 jane62371
Posted
sarah09381 wayne76842
Posted
Struggling with especially the feeling sick and agitated all the time
natalie99981 jane62371
Posted
Stick with it everyone I am anxiety more so than depression to but they go hand in hand really ..
Feel free to pm me I am more than happy to have a chat
Nat
jane62371 natalie99981
Posted
Thank you for sharing your story! It has not been until this bout if anxiety that I have spoken about it more openly and I can not believe how common it is!
I have not been depressed. it's the anxiety and panic full on for me! Today I can just about see the light at the end of the tunnel! that gives me such hope!
Did you get any side effects going from 50 to 75?
jane62371 sarah09381
Posted
There's no harm in that! They could point you in the right direction if they can't help
Xx
natalie99981 jane62371
Posted
james8206 jane62371
Posted
sarah09381 james8206
Posted
tracey11164 sarah09381
Posted
jane62371 james8206
Posted
I was on citalopram years ago. It did work well at the time. Apart from weight gain which didn't bother me. I was on it 24 months then came off and was great for a yr or so.
Take care ☺
sarah09381 tracey11164
Posted
tracey11164 sarah09381
Posted
nina21823 james8206
Posted
sarah09381 tracey11164
Posted
james8206 sarah09381
Posted
james8206 nina21823
Posted
sarah09381 james8206
Posted
james8206 sarah09381
Posted
sarah09381 natalie99981
Posted
jane62371 sarah09381
Posted
sarah09381 jane62371
Posted
dodo81786 nina21823
Posted
I'm on my day 20 with Zoloft and I've been feeling better last week but today I'm not sleeping and have anixity of that , I don't know if the med is still didn't fully kick in or what as I was feeling so much better last week.
If any one happened to experience this before please advice . I'm on 50 mg of Zoloft .
rachel1357 dodo81786
Posted
good luck
shalini_17600 stewart50006
Posted
Thx for your story..I've on 25mg for 3 days. Wow the side effects are heart palpitations, anxiety, sweats & restlessness. Hopefully soon this will all subside
tonya34547 rachel1357
Posted
Hi Rachel, I read through these to help me get through anxiety and depression. I've been on sertraline for three months and believe I'm starting to feel better, I take 1 mg clonazepam before bed to help with sleep and it works. I still don't feel 100% taking sertraline. I had been taking tramadol for RLS but became dependent, it's been 5 months since I've been off of them. I'm thinking it's partially because of that I still have depression and anxiety. I'm starting to wonder if these will ever really help.
gail5151 nina21823
Posted
Hi how are you doing now? I was prescribed 50mg sertrlaline. My first dose was horrible! I wanted to jump out of my skin, extremely anxious and could not settle down. Decided to half the dosage and I'm on day 6., The anxiety is still high, but the other symptoms are gone. This is a very difficult process, I want it to work so I can enjoy life and stop the worry and dread.
julie96604 stewart50006
Posted
Hi I'm on 150mg and so frightened this drug won't work for me !! I've been on 50 / 100/150 now over 5 weeks please tell me when u started to feel normal if you no what I mean x
julie96604 stewart50006
Posted
Same for me at moment it's terrifying I'm not seeing any light yet ,
michelle71710 stewart50006
Posted
Hi stewart50006, just read your post I know it was awhile ago but it's really helped me. How are you doing now? I started sertaline 7days ago 6days on 25mg and just upped it to 50mg today as thats what my dr wanted me to start on.
I've had side effects, worse is heightened anxiety but last night was the worse! Couldn't sleep, sweating, anxiety and horrible thoughts.
Worse I've ever felt! I just hope I can see light at the end of the tunnel soon
sally33118 nina21823
Posted
How long after stopping did the anxiety go?
I took it for 5 days and stopped 3 days ago but still got massive anxiety
Kayleigh0910 rachel1357
Posted
Im on 50 been on 5 days but having heightened anxiety and negative thoughts i have to up my dose to 100 on day 7, did it help u?
Kayleigh0910 julie96604
Posted
Did u have up and down days? Been on it 19 days was on 50mg for 7 days and now 100mg and been pretty ok for few days but today got up and my anxiety has heightened and shakes are back, i was put on it for anxiety just wondered if u had the same?
joseph90743 natalie99981
Posted
Hi natalie,
I wanted to reach out to see how it's been going with you and Zoloft. I have been on it for 2.5 weeks and at the moment feel like I'm going through absolute hell. The anxiety and panic I feel are constant. I am just hoping that it starts to work soon. When did you start to feel that it worked for you?
I so appreciate your thoughts.. best Joseph
melissa66574 tracey11164
Posted
I know this post was from a while ago but how r u feeling now??
I’m on week 4 of 200mg of sertraline and don’t think I’ve had any significant progress...;(
It’s alwats worked for me and i hope it’ll work again!!!